"When we last saw Napheesa Collier, she was scootering away from the site of her team's shocking semifinal loss to the Phoenix Mercury. When we last heard from her, she was excoriating the WNBA's "worst leadership in the world" at a season-end press conference, where she brought up the league's indifference to officiating issues. In May, both moments still loom large."
"Collier told NPR's Steve Inskeep in a recent interview that the injury and eventual surgery were why she only signed a one-year deal with Minnesota this offseason. "I think just like not looking too far into the future in that way, and that I want to be able to stay focused on my recovery," she said, when pressed on the contract issue. "This is new for me, and I wanted to be able to give it my all and focus on the now.""
"Collier will miss at least the first month of the season while she rehabs the left ankle that she injured back in September, a challenge for a Minnesota Lynx team whose rotation players on bargain contracts all finally got paid: Jessica Shepard and co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith signed with the Dallas Wings, Bridget Carleton was picked up by the Portland Fire in the expansion draft, and Sixth Player of the Year candidate Natisha Hiedeman signed with the Seattle Storm."
Napheesa Collier enters the WNBA season recovering from a left ankle injury sustained in September, with surgery and rehab expected to keep her out for at least the first month. Her absence comes after a semifinal loss to the Phoenix Mercury and after she criticized the WNBA’s leadership and indifference to officiating issues at a season-end press conference. Collier signed only a one-year deal with Minnesota to focus on recovery rather than long-term planning. Minnesota’s supporting cast is also changing, with key rotation players receiving new contracts or moving to other teams, including Alanna Smith, Jessica Shepard, Bridget Carleton, and Natisha Hiedeman. The team’s depth and leadership concerns will influence how Minnesota performs when Collier returns.
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